#i should make comics about. kakashi training his ninken at some point | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

pfreadsandwrites · 3 years

Text

九つの命/9 Lives Translation

Hi!! So, @foxy-and-tales asked me to tell her what was going on in the comic mentioned in this post. After skimming through it, I thought it'd be good practice - and it'd be easier to answer her question - if I just went through it and told her what it all meant. I realised by that point I was doing a translation, and since I was going to the trouble anyway, I thought I'd post it publicly.

So, the full comic is here. It's basically a comic that has 7 little stories about Kakashi's ninja hounds and their lives with Kakashi. It's an adorable, heartfelt story and I absolutely love the personalities that the artist gave all the ninja hounds and the depictions of their relationships with Kakashi.

My translation will be this post, follow it as a script. I don't have the skill or knowledge to edit and typeset and change the images myself - and I wouldn't do that anyway, as it would involve reposting the art and changing it without the artist's consent. But I do think that not referring to the pictures as you're reading through the script really harms how sweet this story is, so if you can go through the comic slowly whilst referring to my (amateur) translation of it, I hope you can get a glimpse of that!

WARNINGS: There is a depiction of an already dead dog in part 4 😢, and some (human!) male partial nudity in part 6 (😉)

Tagging: @scaredlittlefoxy @lemony-snickers @backalleykat @whatshernameis @gwedosuns @topsyturvy-dream @ice-icebaby @cosmiclattes

This is also the artist’s note that follows after the comic, that I’m putting here:

(Artist’s note translation)

"This is a story about the daily life of Kakashi and the eight ninken.

The ninja dogs’ personalities etc mightn’t be faithful to the source material.

The dogs live free range in Kakashi’s house.

There is an illustration of a dog dying, though it isn’t any of the ninken. Please take note.

You don’t have to read it, but below this are the dogs’ personalities:

Shiba: Friendly and sensitive

Biscuit: Childish and Selfish

Akino: Calm and cool demeanour

Bull: Timid and Quiet

Urushi: Ladykiller. A little bit dim. (Note: Himbo!)

Guruko: Annoyingly helpful and naggy

Uhei: Pure-hearted and cheerful

Pakkun: Same as in the series"

Some notes and then onwards into the translation under the cut:

Please take heed before continuing:

I’m not a professional translator, in fact I’ve done very little of this, so there’s some guesswork and liberties taken, and I don't claim that that there’ll be no mistakes.

I’ve separated it out by sections and pages, so you should be able to follow the story from following the speech bubbles (right to left) and referencing the lines here by speaker

Each space between a line denotes that it’s the next speech bubble

A new line but no change in speaker will denote that it’s the same character talking, but in the next panel or speech bubble

Italics means the character is thinking or flashbacks. I'll try and make this obvious as I go but the artwork should make that clear too.

Brackets are my additions, or me translating things like signs etc, or brackets will have smaller background dialogue not in speech bubbles. I'll try to make this clear as I go.

Stuff surrounded by * denotes actions or onomatopoeic actions/words in panels

Ask me if there’s any parts that confuse you about the story!! The way I’ve done this isn’t easy to follow but it's the best my dumb brain could come up with

TRANSLATION:

Title page

(p.1)

ここのつのいのち

9 Lives

(p.2)

1. ‘I won’t tell anyone’

(SFX: dogs playing and wagging tails)

Kakashi: Hm? You’re not gonna play, Shiba?

Shiba: …No. …Hey, Kakashi’

Kakashi: Hm? What?’

Shiba: There’s a girl I like’

Kakashi: Ohhh… I won’t tell anybody.

I won’t tell ~ I won’t tell ~

(p. 3)

Shiba: She’s really cute…

Kakashi: That’s great ~

Shiba: But I haven’t even spoken to her once

Kakashi: You should go for it ~

(SFX: *happy dog panting*)

Shiba: I’ll come back as soon as I’ve talked to her!’

Kakashi: Yep!

Shiba: I’ll be right back, definitely!

Kakashi: Ok, ok (lit. Yes yes)

(p.4)

Shiba: She’s already got someone (lit. she’s already in a couple/has a mate)

Kakashi: I see…

Shiba: She said her mate hurt his leg and can’t walk so he's staying at home…

(p.5)

Kakashi: Shiba, you know.. have feet that can walk anywhere…

So maybe you’ll meet an amazing girl again, won’t you?

(*dog cries*)

Kakashi: ...I won’t tell anyone. (*Comforting doggy*)

I won’t say anything. I won’t say anything.

(Kakashi: Aw, Shiba is pretty sweet to me, huh?)

2. Biscuit’s Sausage (note: I know his name is technically Bisuke in Japanese, but Biscuit is his dub name and it’s too adorable so that’s what I’m going with here! Also suits the personality he has in this story. What a biscuithead this boy is)

(p.6)

Biscuit: -You’re so sneaky, Kakashi! I wanted to eat sausages!

*crying dog noises*

(Uhei: Sorry, Kakashi…

Guruko: I told you!!)

Kakashi: You know if you eat sausages, Biscuit, your tummy will get sick, right? I’m boiling cod for you right now

(*tantrum noises, pounding feet and barking*)

Biscuit: *angry puppy noises* I hate fish, you idiot! I said I want to eat sausages! Sausages! Sausages!

Kakashi: *sternly* Biscuit

Biscuit: *whimper*

(p.7)

Biscuit: Kakashi, you IDIOT!

(2. Biscuit’s Sausage)

Biscuit: *sniff*

(Sign says Konoha Pet Food)

Biscuit: This is the store that sells the dog food Kakashi buys! Wow, maybe they have sausages here too!

(p.8)

Biscuit: I wonder if I'll be able to eat as much as I want… *gulp*

But if I did that, Kakashi would get in trouble

No, maybe…

*heart pounding*

Kakashi kept it (this) a secret just from me, because I'll get sick...

(Apron says Konoha Pet Food)

Shop Lady: *shuffles*

Biscuit: I didn't do anything yet!!! * heart pounding*

Shop Lady: Oh my… you really just talked!

Shop lady: You’re Kakashi’s pup, aren’t you?

(p.9)

Shop lady: Kakashi got you to come here, huh?

(Shop lady: you’re a good boy!)

Bisuke: Oh, no-

Shop lady: Though, he shouldn't have made you come pick it up without contacting us, huh? Here, sausages!

Biscuit: Sausages?!

Shop lady: There’s a pup among you guys that can’t have normal sausages, right?

It was a request from Kakashi.

He said he wanted me to make some especially for the puppy who can’t handle meat.

(p.10)

Shop lady: Well, here you go!! You’ll tell Kakashi we’re sorry for making him wait, won’t you?

Biscuit: Oh, um… But I don’t have any money…

Shop lady: It’s fine, because it’s Kakashi!

Whenever he has free time, he comes to pay.

I have a deal with him, you see. And he can't get the food if he's not here...

Next time, come together with Kakashi, okay?

(p. 11)

Kakashi: *casually picks up Bisuke* Thank you! This is for you ~

Shop lady: Thank you, come again!

Biscuit: Kakashi…

Kakashi: Hm?

Biscuit: Sorry…

Kakashi: Yeah…

I’m sorry too. I gave everyone else sausages while keeping it a secret from you.

I thought you’d definitely want some if you saw…

(Kakashi: But I got caught.)

(p. 12)

Kakashi: But…. Everyone’ll want some if they see this, too.

How about stopping by the park and eating it there?

We’ll keep it a secret from everyone 😊

Bisuke: *happy face licking and barking* When we get home, I’ll eat the cod too!!

Kakashi: Uhh… Well, Uhei and Guruko already ate it…

Bisuke: WHAT?!!!

(Flashback, Uhei and Guruko saying ‘Cod! Me too!! Me too! I want to eat some too!’)

3. Kakashi’s smile

(p. 13)

*paws thudding on ground/running away*

Kakashi: …Got you.

Akino: Ack!

It’s always only me that you brush so roughly, Kakashi!

Kakashi: It can’t be helped, can it? You have the thickest fur, Akino

*brushing softly* It’ll be over soon, it’ll be over soon…

Other doggies: That seems nice to me, Akino…

Kakashi: Hey, it’s falling out, it’s falling out ~

Akino: !!!

Kakashi: Look, it’s a mini Akino!! So much fur…

Akino: That’s too much hair off the bottom, Kakashi! Wha…

(p. 14)

*Kakashi continuing to laugh at his mini Akino*

Akino: There are times now where Kakashi summons us, even if he doesn’t have any business for us to take care of…

(Back then) he never ever summoned us outside of missions…

(p. 15)

Akino: He was doing all kinds of things, but he was the kind of person who never had a smile on his face…

Kakashi: If I had more time, I could make an even hairier one, you know

(Other dogs: *laughing* Akino: That’s a lie!)

Akino: Kakashi…. You're having fun?

Kakashi: *genuine smile* Yep, I am!

Akino: *smile* If you feel like it, you can keep going…

Kakashi: Oh?

(Later, Akino notices Kakashi has put sunglasses on the mini Akino)

4. Timid Bull (CW Animal Death)

(p. 16)

Bull: I’m the last ninja hound that came to Kakashi’s home.

Before that, I was living in a training centre for ninja hounds.

(4. Timid Bull)

The dogs I lived together with there… were all adopted when they were puppies.

But I still lived at the training centre, even as I became fully grown.

Ninja Hey, that dog looks tough, doesn’t he?

Centre manager: Yes, but… he’s not all that suited for battling…

Despite how he looks, he’s actually a timid dog.

Bull: I… I’m scared of insects. I’m scared of noises.

I’m scared of blood.

Centre manager: Because he can understand the stories of troubled humans, you see…

Bull: I’m scared of anything other than myself.

(p. 17)

Bull: Nobody would want a dog like me, right?

Kakashi: I found a good boy ~

Bull: *panicking* There’s no manager here!

Kakashi: Hello ~

Bull: …Hello… *heart pounding*

Kakashi: Ah, one that talks, huh…

Would you like to become one of my pups?

(p. 18)

Bull: Me…? Me, really? Quit it… That’s enough joking around.

Kakashi: What do you mean?

Bull: No-one wants me (😢)

Kakashi: No-one?

I want you, though.

Bull: What kind of a strange person would want me, I thought

(p. 19)

Bull: There were lots of dogs at Kakashi’s house

(Happy barking doggy noises)

Uhei: Woah, you’re huge! But among these guys, I have the fastest legs, you know!!!

Guruko: And I have the best nose!!

Biscuit: And I’m whiny!! (Note: lit. ‘I’m selfish!’)

Shiba: I have the sharpest bite!

Pakkun: I am the wisest. (Note: Pakkun I think uses Kansai-dialect Japanese lol so he sounds kinda... distinct. This is hard to convey for me lol)

Urushi: I’m popular with the ladies ;)

(Akino: I’m the fluffiest!)

Bull: I was so confused

You… you’re not scared of me?

I’m huge, and I have a scary face… So no one comes near me.

They all said they weren’t scared.

The reason, they said together, was…

(p. 20)

‘Because Kakashi brought you, Bull!’

Everyone was totally relaxed, as if they had no worries at all.

They all clung to me as if it was completely natural to do so.

I realised that there’d always be someone beside me.

(p. 21)

*sounds of paws scuffling against ground in first two panels*

*jumping to the ground noise in third panel*

Kakashi: …Bull, this way is a dead end.

Bull: …Sorry.

I couldn’t go back to where you were, and I thought so, but -

(p.22)

Bull: *looking at dog* He asked me to stay by his side.

…He was an enemy, but he was already dying.

That’s why, Kakashi….

Kakashi: …Yep.

Let’s give him a send-off together.

(Note: this was a tricky one because Kakashi says 送る, which means send, and is used with mail etc, but can mean to say farewells to the deceased, which is why Bull comments on it on the next page)

(p. 23)

Bull: He wanted to say ‘I want to bury him’

But Kakashi said ‘send-off’.

Lightly, as if his life force was still there

There… there are a lot of things that scare me.

When I was waiting for this dog, I was scared.

But I couldn’t refuse his request.

(p. 24)

Bull: …I’m spineless.

Kakashi: Everyone else has lots of things they’re scared of, you know.

That’s why they all stay by your side, Bull.

If you’re there, everything will be alright. That’s how everyone feels.

If you’re close by, everyone’s able to feel safe.

(p. 25)

Kakashi: ….This puppy, too.

Dying dog: …Please…

Bull: That dog…

Dying dog: Stay with me, until the end…

Kakashi: Because you stayed with him, Bull, he felt at peace, didn’t he?

Bull: I don’t think that dog was happy…

…Kakashi.

He was very thin, and he also smelt like he was sick

To protect themselves, his owner didn’t treasure this [this dog’s] life.

Kakashi, I…

Somehow, I..

I’m very…

(p. 26)

Bull: I wanted to cry out as loud as I could..

Kakashi: Yeah… (I’m not sure who’s saying this line)

Bull: For feeling guilty towards that dog, and for knowing Kakashi…

For my life being here now.

For my life, I wanted to cry it out until the blood came out of my throat.

(p. 27)

Bull: That dog…

I wonder, was that dog ever able to feel like this, even once?

(Flashback) Doggies: Because Kakashi brought you, Bull!

Uhei: Hey!!! Bull!!

Shiba: You’re late!!

I was worried, you know!

Guruko: (to others) Hey, Bull came back!!

Bull: I’m Bull. The dog that Kakashi found.

5. Urushi’s scales

(p.28)

Urushi: I think I’m good looking

(5. Urushi’s scales)

Girl pups: Ahh~ Urushi…~

Urushi: I’m popular with the ladies

(note: he uses メス, which means bitch in the literal sense - a female dog - and all the puppers use it to refer to human women too. So I just left it as ladies, as I don't think the pups mean it to be crass, they just use dog language and apply it to humans as well as themselves)

Sometimes I’m told ‘it’s probably because you’re one of Kakashi’s ninken’, but…

(Background lettering over the other dogs says ‘Unstylish/Uncool/Lame’)

But my other friends aren’t all that popular, really.

Still, I think it’s because I really am good-looking after all.

(Choruses of ‘Urushi~’, ‘Ahh…; and ‘Let’s play together, Urushi)

Urushi: Hehehe…

Being good-looking is a great thing.

Guruko: Hey, Kakashi!

(p. 29)

Guruko: You got hit by a girl again, didn’t you?!

Kakashi: *laughing* No…

Akino: Why were you hit by a girl? Do girls not like you?

Uhei: It looks like it hurts…

Kakashi: Nooo ~

Shiba: You’re so strong, Kakashi, why were you hit?

Biscuit: You couldn’t avoid it?

Guruko: *Steam from nostrils* I’ll fight her for you!

Kakashi: It’s fine, it’s fine ~

What are you saying?

(p. 30.)

Urushi: Kakashi said ‘I took responsibility’.

Sometimes humans say things I don’t understand…

Girl dog: Urushi… pair up with me.

Urushi: If Kakashi’s saying it, it must be important…

Be… Because I’m one of Kakashi’s ninken?

Girl dog: It has nothing to do with that. I like you, Urushi

Urushi: Wow… *heart pounding*

Girl dog: Pair up with me, and…

I want you to leave the ninken. (Lit. Stop being a ninken)

(p. 31)

Girl dog: I love you, Urushi, but what if, on a mission, you…

I can’t stand the thought of that!

Leave the ninken, and… always stay in the village with me?

Urushi: This girl’s a beauty, and has a kind personality…

I think that I might want to be with her…

Should I leave the ninken?

(p. 32)

Urushi: *perplexed*

Kakashi, Bull and Biscuit: *zzz, sleeping sounds*

Urushi: If I said I wanted to leave the ninken…

Kakashi: (in Urushi’s imagination) If that’s what you want, Urushi

It’s fine with me! (Background: It would be a shame, though…)

Urushi: I feel like Kakashi would say something like that…

Do I want to do that…? Not really, but… *sigh*

Hey, Pakkun.

(p. 33)

Pakkun: Something bothering you?

Urushi: Yeah, there is

I have to decide between two things, but it’s difficult…

I want both of them, but I can’t have them.

Pakkun: … Is it a girl problem?

Urushi: Yep ~

Pakkun: That’s just like you, Urushi. (Pakkun’s imagination shows two girl pups arguing:

Urushi!! Which one will you choose, me or her?! *indignant barking*)

When making a decision about something, one needs to think about what’s most.

...important to oneself.

Let’s say you balance both sides on your scales…

Urushi: My scales?

Pakkun: For example….

(p. 34)

It’s not the physical weight, but the weight of what you think is precious and important. It’s the weight of those feelings.

If you think about which is heavier, you’ll find the answer.

Kakashi: You guys are having a kinda complicated conversation, huh…?

Pakkun: Oh, Kakashi, you woke up, did you?

Urushi: *heart pounding*

Kakashi: My scales lean towards sleep, you know..

Let’s eat soon, okay? Please…

Urushi: Kakashi…. Are you happy that I’m here?

(p. 35)

Kakashi: Hm? Yeah, I’m happy!

Urushi, of course I’m happy ~

(Note: the word Kakashi uses is 嬉しい, which is ‘ureshii’ so Kakashi is making a pun with Urushi’s name here.)

Urushi: *blush* Okay!

Pakkun: What we were just talking about… Don’t talk about it in front of Shiba.

Urushi: Huh? Why?

Pakkun: Seems like he recently had his heart broken…

(p. 36)

Urushi: The thing that’s most important and precious to me… isn’t you.

That’s why I can’t be with you.

I can’t be with you, but… you’re a beautiful and amazing lady.

So, let’s meet again one day ~

Biscuit: Kakashi! Kakashiiiii! It’s awful!!

(p. 37)

(*throbbing pain*)

Biscuit: Urushi’s hurt!!

(*dogs barking*)

Guruko: Let’s go fight them!! *steam from nostrils*

Shiba: No way, is it a girl? Kakashi, you better tell him off!!!

Kakashi: Did you get into a fight with a dog from the village?

Urushi: No, it’s not that…

I took responsibility.

I’ve got a manly mark on my face, heh~

Shiba: You better tell him off!! *bark*

Pakkun: That’s it…

6. Kakashi’s Helper Team!

(p. 38)

Kakashi: I’m home~!!!

Guruko: ?!!! Kakashi, you stink!!

Kakashi: *sweetly smiling* Oh, stop it…

I saw Asuma after a long time, and we talked and ended up getting some drinks… It was nice to see him… *flops down on floor*

Guruko: Take a bath!!!

Don’t go to sleep!!

(*soundly sleeping*)

(p. 39.)

Guruko: Uhei! Uheiii!

Uhei: What is it?

Guruko: Let’s clean up Kakashi!

(6. Kakashi’s Helper Team!)

Uhei: Ehh… But if he wakes up, he’ll take a bath himself, won’t he?

(SFX: Heave-ho! Heave-ho!)

Guruko: We can’t leave Kakashi as he is when he’s this stinky! It’s fine, take it off!

Uhei: Uh, this is stuck half way, I can’t take it off

Guruko: Because you haven’t taken off his leg bandages!

(p. 40)

Guruko: Damn, this is stuck half way *pulling*

Uhei: Isn’t that because you haven’t taken off his headband?!

Guruko: This is enough, let’s carry him to the bath like this!

(*dragging noises*)

Uhei: Won’t his clothes get wet?

Guruko: It’s fine, because we’re going to wash them anyway!

Uhei: It’s amazing… Kakashi still hasn’t woken up!

Guruko: Okay, let’s wash him!

Uhei: Isn’t that… the shampoo that we use?

Guruko: It’s totally safe!!

If it’s fine for us to use, it’ll be fine for Kakashi too, right?

Uhei: I guess…

(p. 41)

Uhei: We can wash his body, but what about his clothes?

(SFX: *scrub scrub*)

Guruko: If we wash them together, it’ll be fine! Hey, pour some hot water over here ~

Uhei: Okay!

(SFX: *splash*)

Kakashi: *suddenly yelling* I’m gonna die!!

Guruko: *screaming*

Kakashi: Even with my face covered, if you pour hot water on me, I can’t breathe, you know!! You really can’t do that.

Guruko: You woke up…

(SFX: *heart pounding*)

Uhei: You really scared me…

(p. 42)

Kakashi: You’d started something, and I wondered how far you’d carry on… Ah, I’m drenched.

Guruko: Ah, I’m sorry, Kakashi!!

Kakashi: Well, anyway.. you guys ended up cleaning yourselves pretty good too. You’re all drenched, too.

Guruko: Then I’ll go get some towels!!

Uhei: Kakashi, Kakashi

Guruko acts the way he does, but he really loves looking after you!

Kakashi: I know.

Biscuit: I want to have a bath with Kakashi too ~

Guruko: That’s not it! It’s just all slippery (note: not accurate, but the gist is that Biscuit misunderstands and Guruko puts him straight)

7. I’ll always love you

(p. 43)

(Flashback)

Sakumo: Pakkun…

Pakkun…

I have a favour to ask.

(Present)

Pakkun…

(SFX: Snoring)

Kakashi: Pakkun..

(SFX: Gasp)

Pakkun: Huh?

Kakashi: It’s time to eat.

(p. 44)

Pakkun: Alright.

(Other dogs: Food~ Food ~

Kakashi: Yes ~ Yes ~)

(Flashback)

Sakumo: Pakkun…

Pakkun….

Pakkun..

(p. 45)

Pakkun: Kakashi?

Kakashi: Hm?

Pakkun: For the mission report before… You didn't need me, did you?

Why did you bring me?

Other dogs: We want to come too!!

Kakashi: It’s just Pakkun for today

Kakashi: Hmm…

Hey, let’s relax here for a little while.

Pakkun: What’s this…

Kakashi: Come on…

Well…

(p. 46)

Kakashi: I want to talk about Dad.

…No. Maybe it’s a confession?

Talking about Dad…. Felt like something we couldn’t even broach. Ever.

I think you felt this way too, right, Pakkun?

I couldn’t tell you earlier that ‘it’s all right now’. Even though it was.

It was just a matter of timing, I guess…

Pakkun: But I wasn’t waiting for you to say that… Even if you’d have said it earlier, that’d have been good, but..

Why, out of the blue like this?

A change like that… Just like…

Just like…

(p. 47)

(Flashback)

Sakumo: I have a favour.

(Present)

Kakashi: The day Dad died…

Ever since then, for a long time, now… I became strange.

I’ve been nothing but trouble for you.

Pakkun: Kakashi-

Kakashi: Even though… you were hurting over Dad not being here too.

(p. 48)

Kakashi: Dad was your first master, right?

You really were precious to him.

….The other day, when you were having a nap, I woke you up, didn’t I?

It might have been because of the food, but your nose was twitching.

At first, I thought you were growling.

When I woke you up, you had a really startled expression when you looked at me.

I understood right away.

You were thinking about Dad, right?

(p. 49)

Kakashi: You were having a dream about Dad that time, right?

Thank you for always being considerate towards me…

But it’s alright now.

From now on, I want you to tell me…

The things about Dad that only you know.

(p. 50)

Pakkun: Sakumo…

(Sakumo: Pakkun…)

Pakkun: …really was a loving, kind man.

Kind, and…

(Sakumo: Pakkun…)

Pakkun: Kind, and…

…Kakashi.

I’ll tell you about Sakumo.

The things I’ve always wanted to tell you

I’ll tell you now.

Kakashi: Okay.

(p. 51)

Kakashi: Thank you for telling me about Dad, Pakkun.

Pakkun: …Don’t you dare die.

(Pakkun…)

I’ve had enough now.

Yeah. Enough.

(p. 52)

(Sakumo: I’m asking.…)

Pakkun: Sakumo…

The two of you are exactly alike.

Kakashi: Oh, really?

Pakkun: Everything’s alright now.

(p. 53)

“Kakashi!”

(p. 54)

(No text)

(p. 55)

Kakashi!

(p. 56)

Kakashi

(Note: I think the favour Sakumo asked of Pakkun was to take care of and be mindful of Kakashi always. This isn't outright stated)

#naruto #kakashi #kakashi hatake #hatake kakashi #pftranslates #fan comic #translation #fan translation

76 notes · View notes

konohagakurekakashi · 4 years

Note

Writing Prompt: Kakashi's discovery and developing obsession with Icha-Icha.

[Writing Prompt @Senjutsunade]

[Part I - An Introduction:]

Branches and twigs swayed with each press of his sandals, birds scattering into the heavens with indignant squawks and twitters once the Shinobi disturbed their resting places with his Shūsen. Kakashi paid the forest inhabitants little mind however, his visible hue locked solely on the trees ahead, whilst his mind still gnawed on the words of the Sannin. The phrase seemed innocent enough, like something you would say to a nosey youth to chase him from your sight so that you could pour over fleshy magazine’s in peace; but Jiraiya-sama wasn’t like that (not with Kakashi) his eyes though dulled by the impressions of three wars, always crinkled in sincerity whenever the sullen boy darkened his doorstep (or in this case, his study window). As such Kakashi had no other option but to take the man’s words at face value--but then where exactly did that leave him? “Hurry up and become a hero worthy of my books…” Kakashi lamented perplexed, the timbre of his question causing a few more feathers to bristle and retreat further within their nooks and crannies.

In all honesty Kakashi was unfamiliar with Jiraiya-sama’s infamous novels, the teen only ever finding time for his beloved fantasy comics whenever he was cooped up within the Chakra Exhaustion Ward. Most of Kakashi’s free time since graduating the Academy was allotted to lengthy missions and training his Ninken, there wasn’t time for much else at the tail-end of yet another war. Still the teen’s lack of information was an annoyance, causing a slight ripple within his Chakra as he skidded to a halt, leafy greens shaking and tumbling towards the undergrowth. He supposed the first order of business would be to scope out and make a list of all of the known characteristics that Jiraiya-sama’s heroes possessed; if anything it would help draw parallels between them and his own qualities and opine just how far-fetched a wish the Sage saddled him with.

The Hatake boy dropped down into the long elms of grass, exchanging the treetops for abandoned alleys and warm-baked roof tiles, until he finally found himself in the bustling market district. Avoiding eye-contact with just about anyone, Kakashi coiled his way around traders’ carts, food vendors and the occasional, sticky palm courtesy of a child resting upon its mother’s hip, until Kakashi split from the throng of loud noises and scents to make a controlled dash for the corner bookshop. The store itself was cluttered and could do with a good dusting, though the air was cool and dank on his skin after his trek in the Fire Country heat. Side-stepping a few precariously balanced scroll-heaps, Kakashi began to browse the isles, pausing every once in a while if a title caught his attention.

Twenty minutes into his exploration of the little store (and a lung full of dust-mites and musty air later) the teen’s pale fingers finally settled on the binder of a bright orange book. The book was small and wedged tightly between an atlas and the second autobiography of the Fire Daimyō, urging Kakashi to stretch onto the tips of his sandals in order to grip and wriggle the book free. Once unfettered, Kakashi wiped a calloused thumb across its surface, pausing only to contemplate the heading. “Icha Icha Paradise…Huh…That doesn’t sound like a Quest for Heroes, Jiraiya-sama.” Kakashi continued to squint at the badly drawn figures on the jacket, the lady-sprinter looking all the more like Uchiha Mikoto, the longer the teen brooded over the paperback (and decidedly not-cool, action comic). “Ano…you have been in here a while now. Is there anything I can help you with, young man? We have a discount on all ‘Spot the Hokage’ and ‘Wabi Sabi’ books today.”

Kakashi sucked in a breath at the cautious voice echoing from over his shoulder, suddenly remembering where he was and what he was doing, afore he turned to press the orange book into the woman’s awaiting hands (all while ignoring the titles of the children’s literature, and the discount they supposedly came with). “Iie…I want this one…” Kakashi drawled, his arms coming up to cross in front of his chest now that he had nothing to occupy his own fingers with. One glance at the cover had the woman spluttering and choking on air; big red blotches erupting and scattering from the skin of her neck toward her jaw and cheekbones. The teen’s eyebrows curved at her rapidly rising flush, wondering for a moment if what the woman had was contagious and if he should call for the assistance of an Iryō-nin or two. Eventually the woman regained her breath, a handkerchief making its appearance to press against the lines of her forehead. “Yare, yare what are you, eleven Wakōdo-kun? Why don’t I rather show you to those books I mentioned earlier, hmm?” Kakashi’s eyebrows pinched further, refusing to budge an inch for those stupid ‘Spot the Hokage’ tomes that babies used to cut their teeth on. “Thirteen--and I want that one, nothing else.” Almost as an afterthought, because surely that was what caused the woman pause, Kakashi added in a remarkably detached drone. “I can pay for it…Obaa-san. I don’t need a discount.” Peering around them with an aggrieved expression, the woman shifted, finger pads pressing into the orange cover as if she was trying to physically restrain herself from kunai-throwing Jiraiya-sama’s work all the way into a Sunagakure excavation site. “I-I’m afraid I can’t sell this to a customer under the age of eighteen, Wakōdo-kun. We have certain laws in the village and it says so right on the cover, see?”

Kakashi trailed an increasingly irked gaze over the illustration of ‘Not-Mikoto-san’, before he opted to loosen his stance to tap (not once, but twice) against the metal of his hitae-ate glinting amongst his wayward tuffs of hair. “Shi--no--bi….” Kakashi spelled out, thoroughly done with the woman’s returning, red blotches and the amount of dust in the air. He wasn’t just a shinobi mind, but a full-fledged Jōnin; the rules avowing that if you held a Shinobi rank and was therefore old enough to take a life, the rule of majority simply didn’t apply to you. The rule hasn’t applied to Kakashi since the callow age of five in fact; still thinking about the rules, being reminded of them (and by a middle-aged civilian) left a bitter taste in the teen’s mouth. He needed to get out of that stuffy isle; he needed to get some air. Since the shopkeeper didn’t start from her stupor and had her eyes still glued to his forehead protector, the teen was forced to quickly exchange Jiyaiya-sama’s work with a few crumpled notes, hoping that it would be enough as he never really /looked/ at the price-tag, before angling around her and out of the door.

Three streets later and a sharp turn into training ground one, Kakashi found that he was finally able to breathe again. With his orange book pressed against his chest, the teen sauntered over to one of the older trees, its thick, bottle-green canopy providing ample shade from the afternoon sun. It wasn’t until he was comfortably nestled with his back against the bark that Kakashi dared to pry the crisp pages apart, lone hue pirouetting along the paragraphs in quick succession. Jiraiya-sama wasn’t a spectacular writer when compared to the likes of one Murasaki Shikibu. Yet the informal sentences made it easy to get lost in the many toils and troubles of the Sannin’s characters. Jiraiya-sama’s writing talent was definitely in weaving persons and creatures into existence that were quirky and well liked and the Hatake was hard-pressed not to compare some of them to his fellow villagers. Jūgao, a gifted artisan’s daughter and the book’s main character, was a spirited, no-nonsense type that was quickly becoming Kakashi’s favourite. Her knack for getting things done, rather than relying on the lone Rōnin warrior her father hired to protect her on her journey to the Daimyo’s castle, reminded Kakashi a bit of Tsunade-sama and the teen had to speculate as to how much of himself Jiraiya wrote into the idealistic (utterly unhelpful) warrior.

All in all it wasn’t until Kakashi reached the middle of chapter three that the abrupt and very anomalous behaviour of the bookstore clerk began to make sense. The adventure though at its peak (with both hero and heroine injured and finding themselves entrapped in an abandoned, carpenter’s shack) began tarrying into a banter contest, until both character’s concluded that talking was no longer necessary when other (much more horrible) things could be done. Kakashi’s own ghostly cheeks started to glow like a wood-burn furnace, mind short-circuiting as he started to skim then skip whole paragraphs. When it became clear that the hero and heroine would not be returning to their quest anytime soon, Kakashi finally found it within himself to snap the book shut, the resounding ’thud’ and uncharacteristic screech of ‘Jiraiya-sensei!’ and ‘Kumoii!’ causing by-passer civilians to drop their dangō in the dirt.

[Part II-A Second Chance:]

Kakashi was fourteen and leaning over the brim of his toilet seat, pale shoulders quaking with each attempt to drag breath into his lungs. His skin was hot and clammy, but he found that he couldn’t stop the trembling within his thighs; because he was cold, so very cold--He might as well be in the middle of Yūkigakure. A cheek pressed against ceramic, vaguely aware of how unsanitary it was and that both Kushina and Minato-sensei would convulse then fuss at how he just couldn’t bring it within him to /care/. His eyes were so heavy, but he would not sleep (he could not sleep) because they weren’t there--none of them were and they never would be again. Despite his reluctance Kakashi must have passed out at some point, because when he jolted to awareness his ears still rung with the chirp of a thousand birds and his bruised knees were still denting tile. He managed to drag himself onto his feet and to the sink to splash water onto his face, his neck, his hands. Though, all the while, he refused to lift his eyes to meet the gaze of his reflection.

Once his skin was red and blistering, the boy finally retreated to the gloom of his kitchen, pointedly ignoring the twisted sheets of his Futōn in favour of some tea. He would not be getting anymore sleep tonight of that much he was certain. Single grey hue tracked the movement of the clouds from his window, whilst he waited for the leaves to steep, the aroma of Matchā and honey causing some of the tension to drain from his form. Kakashi had no mission reports due, was too tired to consider stretching his limbs and practicing his kata and he could not risk attempts at conversation by making his way to the Memorial Stone. The Hatake briefly considered summoning his pack, but having only just returned from that horrendous S-rank, Kakashi wanted them to rest, to recover—not be laden with his disgusting insecurities. With nothing else to do, Kakashi then proceeded to clean, fingers dipping into various drawers, across shelves and pressed into storage scrolls to sort through his minimal amount of earthly possessions.

It was after three cups of tea, a packet of Ramen and two “Trash it” boxes later that Kakashi came across the family of Tsuchigumo spiders hunched within the corner of his desk, needle-thin legs spread out like they paid rent. He did not want to smoke them out, since his apartment was tiny and the smell would linger. Getting his cleaning cloth full of spider bits and fluids was equally unappealing, really, so Kakashi resorted to pilfering his desk drawers for an old issue of the Konoha Times instead. Digits raked across the storage space until they brushed against a paperback, the bright orange of the jacket scarcely enough warning for the freeloaders afore Kakashi squashed them out of existence. Leaning back on his haunches, Kakashi made to inspect his weapon of choice, surprised to find that he still had his copy of Jiraiya-sama’s dirty book. One grey hue danced across the title and the figure of ‘Not-Mikoto-San’ while an almost sardonic twitch of lips pulled a chuckle from his throat. Sure he had often wondered if Jūgao and her Rōnin made it out of that carpenter’s shack-- Kakashi’s ever thinking mind liked completions and up until Make-out Paradise, he has never left a book unfinished, no matter how dull. Despite the sudden onslaught of unsavoury adjectives and err…doing words, Kakashi remembered that the actual plotline was good, or at least interesting enough to make his thirteen year old self plough through three chapters, without a second thought of Shirūken practice. Cue a half-hearted drag and besom of the book against his tatami to remove any and all traces of Tsuchigumo spider guts, before Kakashi settled against the leg of his desk to resume where he once left off.

[Part III-A necessity:]

With the sun beating down his back and three snot-nosed brats peering up at him with what he could only define as condescension, Kakashi was really starting to question his life choices (and the decisions made by their old, honoured Sandaime). Until that inkling of thought Kakashi was certain that he only ever did what was asked of him, when it was asked of him, without any unnecessary questions raised; thus the Copy-nin couldn’t fathom why he would be pulled from the routine of ANBU for this. How did twenty-two year old veterans still get saddled with babysitting duty? Because surely it was that and nothing more, a punishment for skipping out on all of his psych-evaluations and what a punishment it was. The brats were rude, the brown-haired gāki (with Tenzo’s headband and wide, doe-eyes, but absolutely none of his adorably, reserved qualities) practically trampled over his greeting like an ox; before charging at him with sloppy punches and kicks, not a single regard for his actions, environment or teammates shown. When it became clear that their Tāijutsu was sorely lacking and that they wouldn't claim a bell that way, they turned on each other at the drop of a smoke pellet, wishing to physically force each other out of the running, while emphasizing their indifference to their team leader’s objective.

It was cruel to watch them, their bitter taunts and coercions taking him back to a similar bell test not long ago; back when he was just like them, using Rin and Obito for his own objectives and gain. Perhaps if Minato-sensei wasn’t so lenient, perhaps if he failed Kakashi like he should have, both of them (infinitely better shinobi than he could ever hope to be) would still be alive with their own Genin teams. But he didn’t and they weren’t; the loss still managing to congeal Kakashi’s blood and make his fingers shake, fingers now profoundly aware of their utter emptiness. The orange paperback that always managed to ground him and clear his guilt-ridden thoughts was left waiting on his nightstand, so the Jōnin fisted his digits instead, while a dark hue shifted at the brief flicker of Lord Third’s chakra within his periphery. He would not make the same mistakes Minato-sensei did however; he would not pass anyone like them, like him. He did not care what was said, what the council and his Hokage hoped for; Kakashi would not lead anyone else to their deaths. He then cradled the two, chinking bells to his chest as the graduates began their long “saunter of shame” back to the academy and wondered wryly if this was the way Jugaō felt when she refused the dying wish of her artisan father, along with the empty penances of her Rōnin.

[Part IV-A simple pass-time:]

At this point in time Kakashi has spent twenty one years in active service of his village. Sometimes it felt like five life-times and if the silver-haired Jōnin was to be perfectly honest; he never thought that he would live long enough to suffer through his twenty sixth birthday. The ninja lifestyle was a tumultuous storm of loss, loneliness and suffering and Kakashi was never the most restrained soldier; always fighting and living like he anticipated (wanted) it to be his last. Through the mess of it all the Hatake has only ever had four constants he could fall back on: His Pack, the heat level of Maitō Gai’s ūdon curry, his guilt and Icha Icha. By now the cover was chipped and fading, pages yellowed and soft from being dog-eared through countless battles, training drills and winding missions; but the words still remained the same, Jiraiya-sama’s message clear and resounding. So many years later Kakashi has all but given up on deciphering the toad sage’s cryptic words, long having come to terms with the fact that he was not meant and never would be a hero. Iie, Kakashi was a supporting character (content to serve and aid the actual heroes from the shadows; doing what the heroes could not) the Minakō Shrine-maiden to Jugaō and her Rōnin’s exploits—or perhaps the Sannin really just wanted to shoo him away from his window after all.

Though he had moved passed his initial intent with Jiraiya-sama’s work, the shinobi still enjoyed the orange paperback, the smart-alecky piece of literature gaining more usages with each passing year. Kakashi learned that reading the adult novel in public was not considered conventional, but that in doing so it could be used as a means to keep people at a distance, a barrier without depleting his chakra and a nifty escape from social conventions and interactions (It was no secret that he was never really good at those). Kakashi found that the little novel caught people off-guard, created much needed openings when sparring and riled others up to the point where they would storm off rather than demand the mission report he handed in more than two weeks ago, to be redone and submitted--seeing as the blood of your enemies wasn’t an acceptable toner, nor were the lines “I beat up the badies and took back our scroll—the end” an acceptable account of the mission.

The book and characters grew on him. It became both a habit and a distraction as familiar as the Hidden Leaf’s pine needles and wet earth scent. He was invested in their stories and the outcomes, grasped onto them as he did the stories of his own past and kept both close. The most important utility of Icha Icha Paradise however, was the fact that it provided him with the opportunity to observe his surroundings without anyone being the wiser, to inspect and review and form conclusions. It was something he was doing now, lone hue following the fight between the Samurai and the Daimyō's personal guard, while simultaneously he observed the way an eager arm was throwing bread crusts at a stoic, Uchiha’s face. Said face contorted in irritation, but was no quicker than a blur of petal-pink, a loud banshee call disturbing the peace and quiet, before the Jinchuuriki (and the remainder of his crusts) were drop-kicked into a bale of wheat. “Naruuuuuto! Stop scattering crumbs on my picnic blanket, idiot!” Then on a more timid note “Would you like more tea Sasuke-kun? Kaka-sensei?”

Kakashi hummed in affirmation, lone hue curving into a crescent, whilst his thumb proceeded to flip another page. It was really nice (if he had to be so candid) the gentle breeze, the smell of warmed starch, the happy faces of his favourite ‘Hellions’ as they gazed over the golden fields about them. There was no war to break the scenic spell, no death or disease and Kakashi felt thawed at the edges (almost cautiously at peace) that he could observe such a moment. With the small acknowledgement came the sudden need to clear his throat, pale fingers ghosting against pages, afore they finally snapped the cover closed; only to replace his beloved pages with a warm cup of Matchā. Once Naruto crawled out of the bound grain to slump against his side, whiskered cheeks red and puffed out into a pout; Kakashi’s muscles did the impossible and relaxed further into the checker fabric. “ Sakura-chaaan! It’s not my fault ‘dattebayo! The corps was thinking he was too good to answer me again. If ‘Teme doesn’t use words how do I know if I can have the last sandwich, ’tebayo.”

Kakashi managed to somehow tug his book free from underneath Naruto’s legs with one hand, absently depositing it back into his weapon’s pouch. The Jōnin found that for once his thoughts didn’t linger on what Jugaō would do in retribution to her Rōnin’s betrayal and ineptitude, but focussed instead on the way the team kunoichi was pin-wheeling her fists, declaring that her diet was over and that SHE would be the one to scarf down the last sandwich. Kakashi’s fingers didn’t feel bare of a familiar weight, not when they were pressing his plate (containing the remaining half of his own sandwich) into Naruto’s line of sight. Nor did the Jōnin feel inclined to block out any and all signs of social niceties, not when he glimpsed the 'almost-smile' on Sasuke’s lips at the sight of Naruto’s thankful stream of tears and hiccups. The chances were real that Kakashi either hit his head on an overhanging branch or that he contracted a rare strain of the Bird Flu--but these were things he didn’t want to miss or wish away. Bluntly put, it was character development in real time and for once Kakashi wasn't just a casual observer of the picturesque settings and changes--he was a part of it and for that, as aberrant as it may sound (definitely a symptom of the Bird Flu or Tonsillitis), he was thankful.

*Wakōdo--young boy/young man

#konohagakurekakashi #Hatake Kakashi [The Scarecrow]#writing prompt #character study #character musings #Icha Icha Paradise #senjutsunade

7 notes · View notes